Early in the morning, Simon and other recruits were led to the Lords Association by Ethan Valor with company Astral Lords.
The Lord's Association was a government agency that oversee all the Astral Lords in the world, All Astral Lords are to be registered under the Associations.
Many Astral Lords and teenagers had gathered in the square in front of the Associations building and they were chatting with their peers from their respective companies.
Among them were some that stood alone not chatting with anyone giving a "don't disturb" vibe. Among them ever the rejected ones from previous year.
Besides, the media was also present too.
The new recruit training and assessment was big event in Riverstone Base City every year. The city would telecast the entire event was live from the start to the end. Which showed the importance that government placed on the Awakened Astral Lords recruits.
The event began once the clock struck nine. It started with the opening ceremony as well as speeches from the leaders, company and Astral Lords representatives. Right after all of that, the assessment program commenced.
The recruits hopped onto the car, leaving Riverstone Base City behind for the wilderness outside the city.
Simon was entering into wilderness for the first time in this life, as he looked around curiously.
He saw the world that was reclaimed by nature. Roads, cars, street lights all were covered with greenery and lush forest. Which made him imagine the day 30 years ago when Dreadbeasts was rampaging through the streets while people were fleeing, abandoning their cars, public transport and bicycles in a panic.
In the end, they abandoned their houses.
"it's a desolate world out there!"
"I can't believe that this is how it looks like outside the base city!"
"Is that a lake? It's big. I've never seen a lake as big as that! Also, the endless forest!"
As desolate as the wilderness was, there was also something that the base city sorely lacked, natural lakes, forest, mountains, large trees, fields and whatnot.
This scene made teenagers, who have never left the base city since they were born, gape in awe.
Simon was comparing mankind in his past life; they ruined the world with population and war that this new world that is rampaged by monster felt brighter than that of the world governed my humans.
"A coin always has two side, like that disaster does also, when mankind was forced to its knees, the world fell into self-healing process"
Time passed as the rapidly approached their destination.
An hour later, the convoy arrived at the destination, fallen city of Lantern, a city once known for its rich and vibrant colour. Now fallen under the hand of Dreadbeasts.
Everyone was assembled together.
"Everyone see this abandoned city behind me? This is Lantern city, where you are all going to undergo the test. The city is over run by Dreadbeasts, turning it into haven for them!"
Director Singh of the Lord's Association spoke through the loudspeaker. "Riverstone Base City is continuously expanding our base and Lantern city is an important target of the expansion because of its resources and its ideal environment!
So, we have been actively getting rid of Dreadbeasts around Lantern City over the past few years and killed all the powerful Dreadbeasts. What is left are massive number of Level 1 and Level 2 Dreadbeasts. Which is why we have chosen this place as the test venue!
Today all of your mission is simple: enter the city, kill the remaining Dreadbeasts and gouge out their hearts!
Also remember this: safety first and test second. Avoid going to areas that are above your capability, which can possibly affect your assessment!
The test will last for three days!"
…
The Lantern city was dilapidated, with body of Dreadbeasts filing the streets. Nature have reclaimed the city, as vegetation had covered the shops and tall building.
Simon traversed through the street that was overgrow with grass and bushes, he could not help be amazed.
While Simon was in his thought, a strong gust of wind blew behind him, his heart skipped a beat as he quickly flipped sideway creating distance and dodging the attack.
A beast scraped past him and landed on the ground in front of him.
A giant Rodent-type Dreadbeast that was three meter long. It had sharp claws and grey fur all over its body and two sets of 15-centimetre-long fangs in its month.
"A level 1 Dreadbeast, Glutton Rat!"
Simon immediately recognized it.
Besides practicing the Plant breathing technique to absorb the Astral energy and controlling his Ability for the past six months, he had also learned theoretical knowledge about Dreadbeasts, including how to differentiate their species.
Simon was confident that he could recognize every species Dreadbeasts ever recorded.
The Glutton Rat had evolved from rats that roamed the gutters, after its evolution these rats aggressively followed strong eat weak format eating everything on it way even their own.
Glutton Rat roared as it stared viciously at Simon before it leaped into the air and made a move to bite his head.
Simon was dead sure that if that bite were to connect, he was not going home with his head intact.
"LET GO!"
Simon raised his hand, creating a flaming arrow around him. This meter long shot through the air.
He hit the Glutton Rat's open mouth, burning its whole mouth, he created another Flaming Arrow shot it through its eye piercing its brain.
Glutton Rat gave a dying cry that was so loud and sharp that it alone can take a normal Astral Lords with Simon's level of strength to his or her grave.
A last bit struggle to drag its enemy with it to its grave but it was futile.
Glutton Rat died after its last struggle but to make sure Simon shot another Flaming arrow burning it fur.
After which, he took out a knife and gouged out its heart, which he then put in a dimensional pocket.
It was said that dimensional pocket was pouch those dimensional kangaroos used to carry their children. it had roughly a hundred cubic feet in space and was handy storage space.
However, it was f##king expensive. Not every Lords can afford one, as it cost more than 10 million to buy just 10 cubic meters of space on gadgets.
And the one Simon currently had was given to him by the company, which he would have to return after the test.
"On to the next one!"